Light-diffusing shield for elongated tubular lamps



Jan. 29, 1952 2,583,939

LIGHT'DIFFUSING SHIELD FOR ELONGATED TUBULAR LAMPS G. o. FRENCH ETAL Filed Aug. 28, 1948 6 W Q I w 2 r w a w m [1% llll .J 1 r u m w W W m n N$WN c k A TTORNE Patented Jan. 29, 1952 LIGHT-DIFFUSING SHIELD FOR ELONGATED TUBULAR LAMPS George 0. French and J acques H. Du Roy, Flint, Mich., assignors to Plasti-Cation Corporation," Flint, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application August 28,1948, SerialNo.46,604

1 Claim.

This invention relates to light diffusing shields for tube-type lights such as fluorescent lights at present in general use.

One of the prime objects of the invention is to design a very simple, practical, and efiicient attachment for tube-type lamps, which is of neat and pleasing appearance, and which transmits the major portion of the light to give very soft, indirect lighting efiects.

Another object is to provide a relatively inexpensive light diffuser, that is instantly attachable and/or detachable from a tube-type lamp, without the use of tools or the requirement of special skill by the workman or person installing.

Another object is to design a light diffusing shield including simple, practical and inexpensive clamps by means of which the reflector can be very readily attached to the light tube.

Still a further object is to provide a relatively low-cost light diffusing shield, which can be readily manufactured, which can be easily changed to suit changes in decorative eifects and schemes, and which can be formed to any desired shape and size to efficiently difiuse the light rays from a tube-type lamp.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportion, and minor details of construction, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side-elevational view of our decorative light diffusing shield, showing it attached to a tube-type lamp which is indicated in broken lines.

Fig. 2 is a top, plan, elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, transverse, sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing in which we have shown the preferred embodiment of our invention. The numeral 5 indicates an elongated, translucent, cylindrical lamp of the type commonly termed fluorescent and to which our light diffusing shield 6 is attached in a manner to be presently described.

The diffuser shield or body may be formed of a-single piece of material such as plastic, and is preferably in the form of a substantially semicylindrical member, the face of which can be formed of any desired overall design or pattern,

such as can be readily extruded or molded, and while in the present instance we have shown it semi-cylindrical in cross section, it will be understood that it can be of any other shape desired.

Spaced-apart supporting clamps C serve to releasably suspend the shield from the lamp 5, and these clamps are formed as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, being preferably in the form of a stamping, to facilitate mass production and the savings incident thereto.

These clamps may be made up of a single strip of metal, the outer semi-cylindrical section I of which is of uniform curvature to fit the curvature A cf the shield, the end sections having a return bend 8 spaced from the section I to accommodate the edge sections of the shield therebetween; thence the strip 9 is bent laterally and inwardly at an angle away from the shield; thence being turned upwardly and bowed as shown to form lamp embracing sections III that fit the shape and curvature of the lamp body, the extreme tip being curved outwardly as at H to facilitate its easy attachment to the lamp.

Each of the side sections is formed in an iden tically similar manner, and a description of but one side will suffice for both.

The clamps C are designed to slidably accommodate the shield when sprung, and when in position on a lamp, frictionally engage therewith to prevent movement with relation thereto, and if desired, rivets (not shown) or any other securing means may be utilized for anchoring the clamps in set position.

The clamps are designed to properly space the shield from the body of the lamp to prevent heating and provide clearance to permit easy and quick mounting and/or demounting, and it will be obvious that the shield can be made up in any desired color combination to suit the color scheme in the room in which it is installed.

When the sections H! are spread to embrace the lamp, the end sections 8 of the clamp are also forced outwardly and downwardly to frictionally grip the edges of the shield and hold it firmly in position.

Obviously, the reflector body may be made up in any desired length, without departing from the appearance .of the assembly, and additional clamps may be added to properly support the reflector and prevent sag.

While in the instant application we have shown the shield as transparent for diffusing the light, it will be obvious that this can be a refiector by means of which the light is reflected as in conventional indirect lighting installation.

What we claim is: The combination with a horizontal tube type lamp, of spaced-apart, resilient clamps suspended from said lamp, each clamp comprising a main, semi-cylindrical section of uniform cur; vature, eachsection being bent to form a return semi-cylindrical section lying parallel with and spaced from the main section, the end sections m of the return sections leading inwardly and downwardly and thence upwardly,said upwardly leading sections being bowed and spaced to yielding the return sections of the clamps back 20 against said shield so that 'said shield is REFERENCES CITED {chewing references are of record in the vfile of this patent:

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